Complexes of greatly enhanced thermodynamic stability and metal ion size-based selectivity, formed by the highly preorganized non-macrocyclic ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid. A thermodynamic and crystallographic study

The metal ion-complexing properties of 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (PDA) are reported. The protonation constants (pK1 = 4.75, pK2 = 2.53) and formation constants (log K(1)) for PDA with Mg(II) (3.53), Ca(II) (7.3), Sr(II) (5.61), Ba(II) (5.43), La(III) (13.5), Gd(III) (16.1), Zn(II) (11.0), Cd(II) (12.8), Pb(II) (11.4), and Cu(II) (12.8) were determined by UV-vis spectroscopy in 0.1 M NaClO4 at 25 degrees C. The log K(1) values for most of these metal ions were high enough that they were not displaced from their PDA complexes even at pH 2. The log K(1) values were determined using the UV spectra to monitor the competition with EDTA (or DTPA; EDTA = ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid, DTPA = diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) as a function of pH according to the equilibrium: M(EDTA) + PDA + nH+ = M(PDA) + EDTAHn. The log K1 values indicate that the rigid extended aromatic backbone of PDA leads to high levels of ligand preorganization and selectivity toward large metal ions (e.g., Ca(II), Cd(II), Gd(III)) with an ionic radius of about 1.0 A and greatly enhanced thermodynamic stability as compared to similar ligands without the reinforcing aromatic backbone. The structure of [Ca(PDA)(H2O)2].2H2O (1) is reported: orthorhombic, Fdd2, a = 44.007(9) A, b = 18.945(4) A, c = 7.2446(14) A, V = 6040(2) A(3), Z = 16, R = 0.0882. The Ca(II) ion has a coordination number of eight, lying in the plane of the tetradentate PDA, with Ca-N bonds averaging 2.55 A and Ca-O bonds to the two acetate groups of PDA averaging 2.45 A. These are very close to the normal Ca-L bonds of this type, supporting the idea that a metal ion the size of Ca(II) (ionic radius approximately 1.0 A) will fit into PDA in a low-strain manner. The remaining four coordination sites on Ca(II) in 1 come from two coordinated water molecules and a chelating carboxylate bridging from an adjacent [Ca(PDA)(H2O)2].2H2O complex. Potential applications of PDA as a ligand in biomedical applications such as Gd(III) contrast agents in MRI are discussed.     

Facile fabrication of poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)/colloidal silica composite for nucleic acid detection

Fabrication, characterization, and application of poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE)/silica composite particles are described. PPE is a class of conjugated polymers, which has been used for various sensory materials. However, its hydrophobic nature makes its application difficult in the aqueous phase, especially for biological substance detection. In this report, we utilized non-aqueous soluble PPE, 15 nm of colloidal silica particles, and aminosilane to fabricate a biosensory platform. The resulting composite showed high aqueous compatibility, large surface area, high quantum efficiency, and versatile chemical modification including oligonucleotide coupling. By monitoring the fluorescence quenching of PPE, we could detect a quencher-labeled target oligonucleotide specifically. Stern-Volmer (SV) analysis showed different accessibility of fluorophores (PPE) to a quencher labeled target oligonucleotide. The accessibility of fluorophores and SV constant are determined to be 0.54 and 4.2 x 10(7)M(-1), respectively, from a modified SV plot. This method will broaden the capability of conjugated polymers for the sensitive detection of biological substances.     

Sequence requirements and an optimization strategy for short antimicrobial peptides

Short antimicrobial host-defense peptides represent a possible alternative as lead structures to fight antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. Bac2A is a 12-mer linear variant of the naturally occurring bovine host defense peptide, bactenecin, and demonstrates moderate, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as against the yeast Candida albicans. With the assistance of a method involving peptide synthesis on a cellulose support, the primary sequence requirements for antimicrobial activity against the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa of 277 Bac2A variants were investigated by using a luciferase-based assay. Sequence scrambling of Bac2A led to activities ranging from superior or equivalent to Bac2A to inactive, indicating that good activity was not solely dependent on the composition of amino acids or the overall charge or hydrophobicity, but rather required particular linear sequence patterns. A QSAR computational analysis was applied to analyze the data resulting in a model that supported this sequence pattern hypothesis. The activity of selected peptides was confirmed by conventional minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) analyses with a panel of human pathogen bacteria and fungi. Circular-dichroism (CD) spectroscopy with selected peptides in liposomes and membrane depolarization assays were consistent with a relationship between structure and activity. An additional optimization process was performed involving systematic amino acid substitutions of one of the optimal scrambled peptide variants, resulting in superior active peptide variants. This process provides a cost and time effective enrichment of new candidates for drug development, increasing the chances of finding pharmacologically relevant peptides.     

On the Transition from Tin-Rich to Antimony-Rich European White Soda-Glass Trade Beads for the Senecas of Northeastern North America

It has been shown that several modifications occurred, over the span of the 17th to 19th centuries, in the agents used to opacify European-made white soda-glass beads that were transmitted as trade goods to northeastern North America. Tin was used at the beginning of the 17th century, followed by Sb later in the century, and then by As during the 18th and 19th centuries. In an attempt to define more closely the transition from Sn-rich to Sb-rich white beads, we analyzed 198 white glass beads from a number of archaeological sites in western New York State. Chemical analysis shows that the arrival of Sb-white soda-glass trade beads began in this region during the period from approximately A.D. 1625–1640, and that they had completely replaced Sn-white beads by A.D. 1675. Specific bead chemistries link a number of the archaeological sites.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry: A method of estimating reagent gas pressure in the ion source based on kinetic data

Consequential upon determinations of kinetic rate constants of ion/molecule reactions in methane and isobutane, simple equations are presented from which the pressures of methane and isobutane in the ion source of chemical ionization mass spectrometers can be calculated. Account is taken of the design of the ion source and it is only necessary to determine two ion currents for each gas.     

Peptides—XXXV: Synthesis of the 17–26 fragment of a lysozyme analogue

The fully protected 17–26 fragment of a lysozyme analogue has been synthesised. A fragment condensation approach has been employed using the protected subfragments 17–19, 20–22 and 23–26. In the synthesis of the subfragments the use of the diphenylphosphinyl mixed anhydride method has been demonstrated.     

A spectrophotometric investigation into the complex formation between bismuth(III) and 2-mercaptoethanol in aqueous solution

Complex formation between bismuth(III) and 2-mercaptoethanol was studied at 25°C and I = 1.0 mol dm^?3 HClO₄. The results were used to test the validity of an empirical equation for the calculation of formation constants.     

INAA of fluorine in plastics using the medium-flux McMaster Nuclear Reactor

The fluorine contents of plastics, ranging from about 20 μg·g⁻¹ to 66%, may be measured instrumentally using a conventional research nuclear reactor, an automated sample irradiation and counting system, and a set of well-calibrated, in-house, fluorine standards. Plastics with low to medium fluorine contents may be analyzed using ²⁰F by placing the gamma-ray detector at appropriate distances from the irradiated sample. For high-F plastics, samples may be irradiated in a cadmium lined irradiation site, using ¹⁹O and ²⁰F. Counting statistics of <3% translate into reproducibility of measurements within ±3% and analytical accuracies of ±1% to ±10%.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products in soil and synthetic samples

A packed capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method was developed for the identification of chemical warfare agents, their degradation products and related compounds in synthetic tabun samples and in soil samples collected from a former mustard storage site. A number of organophosphorus and organosulfur compounds that had not been previously characterized were identified, based on acquired high-resolution ESI-MS data. At lower sampling cone voltages, the ESI mass spectra were dominated by protonated, sodiated and protonated acetonitrile adducts and/or their dimers that could be used to confirm the molecular mass of each compound. Structural information was obtained by inducing product ion formation in the ESI interface at higher sampling cone voltages. Representative ESI-MS mass spectra for previously uncharacterized compounds were incorporated into a database as part of an on-going effort in chemical warfare agent detection and identification. The same samples were also analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography (GC)-MS in order to compare an established method with LC-ESI-MS for chemical warfare agent identification. Analysis times and full-scanning sensitivities were similar for both methods, with differences being associated with sample matrix, ease of ionization and compound volatility. GC-MS would be preferred for organic extracts and must be used for the determination of mustard and relatively non-polar organosulfur degradation products, including 1,4- thioxane and 1,4-dithiane, as these compounds do not ionize during ESI-MS. Diols, formed following hydrolysis of mustard and longer-chain sulfur vesicants, may be analyzed using both methods with LC-ESI-MS providing improved chromatographic peak shape. Aqueous samples and extracts would, typically, be analyzed by LC-ESI-MS, since these analyses may be conducted directly without the need for additional sample handling and/or derivatization associated with GC-MS determinations. Organophosphorus compounds, including chemical warfare agents, related compounds and lower volatility hydrolysis products may all be determined during a single LC-ESI- MS analysis. Derivatization of chemical warfare agent hydrolysis products and other compounds with hydroxyl substitution would be required prior to GC-MS analysis, giving LC-ESI-MS a definite advantage over GC-MS for the analysis of samples containing chemical warfare agents and/or their hydrolysis products.